Brad Baker checks in from Spain

There’s that expression: “Living the dream.” American Flat Track racer Brad Baker is doing just that. The 2013 Grand National Champion made the trek to Spain for six weeks of flat track training and, of course, a bit of racing – the fourth annual Superprestigio on December 17.

Baker kicked off his trip with a little detour to Valencia for the MotoGP season finale. Although not Baker’s first Grand Prix (he’s been to the U.S. Grand Prix at Indianapolis before), it was his first European Grand Prix and going to a Spanish or Italian Grand Prix is a bucket list item for any motorcycle racing fan. They’re pretty mad about motorcycle racing in Spain and Italy. So even though the title was decided going into the finale, more than 110,000 fans packed into the arena like facility of Ricardo Tormo Circuit for what was Marc Marquez’ first race home since clinching the title.

“It’s been a pretty awesome experience, every bit as cool as what I thought it would be,” Baker said. “I started off the trip watching MotoGP and was treated like a VIP. I was impressed by so many things… from the five-star portable hospitality areas to the number of crazy fans there were. It was pretty cool to be able to go there and meet a lot of the riders and see a lot of riders that I already knew and just make more connections and enjoy that.”

Part of that VIP treatment was being able to be track side for the race, an awesome experience that Baker was able to translate to the flat track Miles.

“I enjoyed watching from the inside of turn one, which was also the outside of turn four,” he said. “I could watch two good corners and then the Jumbotron was right there so I could watch the rest of the race. I think making inside corner viewing would be a cool option for fans to get a new experience at flat tracks. Standing on the inside of turn one at a mile is a rush just like it is on the inside of turn one at MotoGP.”

Baker (6) has some fun in the dirt with RFME Spanish Flat Track Champion Ferran Cardus (77).

The following weekend, instead of being trackside, Baker was on track on more familiar territory – a dirt short track about an hour and a half outside of Barcelona. Although a bit cold, the weather is definitely nicer than Baker’s home in Washington State.  So he has been able to get in more riding than usual and with a diverse crowd: MotoGP racer Jack Miller, Speedway racer Joonas Kylmakorpi, fellow American Flat Track racer Sammy Halbert and the newly crowned RFME Spanish Flat Track Champion Ferran Cardus.

“Four out of the last five days I’ve been on a motorcycle. That doesn’t happen very often this time of year in the States because the weather doesn’t really allow it,” he said. “So being able to ride with Jack and Joonas and Sammy coming over, it was really cool. Always nice to ride with him (Sammy) and always fun battles. Then being able to ride with Ferran, the Spanish dirt track champion, has obviously been really neat. I’ve been good friends with him for the last three years. It’s been kind of a goal and important to me to be able to help him keep improving his skills and increase the level of competition in Spain.”

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